<p>I'm an African-American female and whenever the topic of college comes up, classmates tell me that I'd be a shoo-in at certain schools because of being a minority. I know that it differs between schools, but does it really make that much of a difference? </p>
<p>My GPA is 3.96(UW)/4.18(W) and I'm in the top 3% of my class. My SAT was 680(CR), 680(M), 670(WR)</p>
<p>Also, what other things would be considered "hooks" and how much do they help? I'm asking because I'm also going to be the 1st person in my family to go to college (my mom has hs diploma, dad doesn't even have that). I'm also an immigrant (came to the us from africa as a child); is that something that would hurt?</p>
<p>An African American student in the top 3% of her class with an SATs averaging 680 per session is ‘hooked’. If you’re looking at a STEM major and you’re a female, that’s another hook.</p>
<p>As to the rest – it varies from school to school there really is no definition.</p>
<p>What it basically means is that there are certain demographic groups that are underrepresented at top universities – (Perhaps the African American population is 4% of the school, but 10% of the population as a whole). For a host of reasons, schools are looking to achieve racial balance, gender balance in STEM, etc.</p>
<p>What it means is that a student that is qualified (i.e., has the intellectual capability to do the work) has an edge in admissions (not a guaranty – an edge). The good news for you – with a 2030 SAT and top 3% of your class, you’re probably qualified at any school in the country.</p>
<p>So, what’s it mean – there are a few schools (very few actually) where 2030 is a bit low for admissions (still qualified to do the work, but low) – A hooked student with these scores, however, still may have an excellent chance of gaining admissions.</p>
<p>So, basically – though you should have matches and safety schools based on your actual numbers, there probably isn’t a school in the US where you don’t have a legitimate shot at admissions.</p>
<p>Being first in your family to go to college also helps.</p>
<p>I agree that you are likely to get into a number of highly selective colleges–but they are so selective these days that it’s not a sure thing for any particular one. Make sure you create a list with a number of schools, including some matches and safeties.</p>
<p>It’s a moving target as to how much it helps. Any hook is only as good as how much a college wants it. The easiest way to look at this is in an athlete’s situation. Everyone knows an athlete has a “hook”. But not at every college. Not every athlete. It depends first of all on whether the school has his sport, how important the sport is to that school, how influential the coach and athletic director are with admissions, how much that team needs him and how good he is. A top diver, for instance, has little or no hook at a school that does not have a swim program or has one with little impact or that already has enough divers.</p>
<p>When it comes to diversity, it’s even less definable. Some schools already have the diversity they want and so it makes little or no difference whether you are AA or not. Many selective schools seeking diversity do flag URMs and have them assessed in a separate pool, and it then depends on how big that pool is and how strong the other candidates in that pool are. That you are a also first generation and an immigrant from an under represented counry will also be considerations.</p>
<p>My son has a former housemate from college with pretty much the same background as yours. He was not accepted to all of his schools and now as a college grad, he still isn’t a slam dunk in grad programs and jobs. It’rankles him greatly that he gets remarks as to how easy it is for him. Yes, the URM pool gives you a better CHANCE of being accepted, but it does still come down to a lot of chance and for most selective schools, the numbers run 20-40% acceptance rate, or double that of non hooked students, from what I 've been told. </p>
<p>As with all students, you should make sure you have some choices on your list that are sure to accept you AND are affordable. With your family income, you are in that category where every dollar of aid is much wanted by the family, and every dollar paid is hard earned and hurts to part with, and yet at most schools, you and your family are going to be expected to pay a significanat portion of the cost. You probably want to look at some merit options and you also need to discuss with your parents what they can pay. But you want to have some good safeties that are affordable on that list of yours.</p>
<p>@cptofthehouse-- I was just reading your post… and try like heck to quote but still don’t know how to do it after being on CC for all this time!! LOL</p>
<p>But you said that the acceptance rate is 20-40%? Thats pretty high…considering that the highly selective schools are down to 6-7% acceptance rates maybe a tad lower…</p>
<p>Congrats on your excellent GPA and scores. You sound like a great candidate for a top school. Obviously you also have the drive and motivation which will be needed to begin a serious college search. </p>
<p>CC provieds a ton of very helpful feedback. The previous post by cptofthe house is a case in point. College admissions is a lot more nuanced than most people think. And comments such as the ones people make to you (and the roommate of previous poster’s son) are probably very well-intentioned…but not always well-informed.</p>
<p>Some suggestions:
– Maybe your experience as an immigrant from Africa would provide material for an interesting admissions essay? Or if you were very young when you came, a reflection on what you hear from your parents, or some of your own experiences growing up in the US?</p>
<p>-- Some schools specifically look for first generation college kids. Try to get a sense of which ones</p>
<p>-- ONLY IF your family is low-income as well as immigrant (not all immigrant families are low-income!) there is a great program called Questbridge which you might look at. If you qualify you can apply to several top schools, including Ivys, through Questbridge.</p>
<p>-- cptofthe house is absolutely right. You need some advice in getting a good mix of “safeties” and “reaches”. And it really is shocking how expensive college has become. So think of “safeties” in terms of being able to actually afford to go there – not just getting in. Many posters in CC have excellent advice re. merit aid, scholarships, etc and how to form a good list which includes both “top” schools (with lots of financial aid) and “good” ones which would be interested in offering you merit aid.</p>